ARTISTS
Click a track name to learn more about the artist:  Nigel Foote
(Track 1: “Home By Dark”)
Nigel Foote grew up in Sydney, Australia, in a home filled with laughter, music and candlelight. Although he played piano as a child, he fell in love with the guitar at sixteen, listening to his mother's Andre Segovia records.
But instead of following a classical path, he was drawn into the embrace of folk music, and the sound of the steel-string guitar, in the 1960's. The instrument has been his constant companion ever since.
Nigel began writing songs in 1972, while running a candle-making business in the inner city, shortly before moving out to Avalon on Sydney's northern beaches.
In 1980 he married Dawn Egan, and with her son, Damien, moved west to the Blue Mountains in 1983.
Their music blossomed in the mountains, and they helped nurture the strong folk music scene that exists today, forming Blue Mountains Folk from the old Katoomba Folk Club; helping establish the mountains as part of the touring circuit for overseas artists.
During 1986, (the International Year of Peace), Nigel released an anti-nuclear single, in association with Greenpeace. Both songs on the record succeeded artistically, winning two songwiting awards, (including a Pater Award). But aside from gaining airplay in Germany the single failed to receive much commercial airplay in Australia, and few were sold.
However, on the strength of that critical acclaim, Nigel released his debut album, 'Dangerous Game', the following year, winning a second Pater Award for songwriting.
Since 1983, Nigel has also built a reputation as a guitar teacher , both at home and for the Mitchell Conservatorium of Music, having given over 10,000 lessons.
Nigel and Dawn now have two more sons, Martin and Lachlan (who play flute and guitar).
Aside from teaching, songwriting, playing guitar and having children, other passions include photography, tennis and coaching the Wentworth Falls Under 10's Cricket Team.
Nigel has recently finished writing and recording, 'The Ballad of C. F. Martin', (a song about the founder of the legendary guitar-making dynasty), which completed his second album of songs, entitled, 'Home By Dark', which has just been released through Shoestring Records.
SONGWRITING AWARDS
2003 Honourable Mention “Just The Way It Goes” John Lennon Song Contest
2003 3rd Place ASA Song Contest “Home by Dark”
2003 2nd Place Musicoz Awards “Martin's Song”
2003 Finalist ASA Song Contest “She Wore No Shoes”
2001 Finalist Johnny Dennis Music Awards “The Water Smoothes the Stones”
2000 Finalist ASA Song Contest “Treasures”
2000 Finalist ASA Song Contest “Home by Dark”
1994 2nd Place ASA Song Contest “Dangerous Game”
1995 Finalist ASA Song Contest “It's a Sad Song a Broken Heart Sings”
1995 Finalist ASA Song Contest “Shadows of the Moon”
1994 Winner Rudi Brandsma Award Various titles
1987 Finalist PATER International Award “For the Birds”
1987 Finalist PATER International Award “Watching Our Love Grow”
1987 Winner PATER International Award “Going Somewhere”
1987 Winner PATER International Award “A Long Way from Parramatta Road”
1986 Finalist Declan Affley Award “Dangerous Game”
1986 Winner PCDAO “Say No, Say No”
www.folksinger.com.au
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 Fiona Joy Hawkins
(Track 2: “Escarpment Dreaming”)
Fiona Joy Hawkins has been writing music since she was a young girl and although she writes for many instruments, she is classically trained as a pianist.
Fiona enjoys listening to the music of contemporaries such as George Winston and Michael Nyman and is inspired by many forms of classical music.
Using her own distinct style she allows her audience to imagine they’re part of the world heritage area we know as the Blue Mountains. Using emotive piano themes, Fiona brings the landscape to her listener’s ears so they can hear and feel the beauty of the escarpment or the magic of a waterfall.
“Escarpment Dreaming” is from Fiona’s debut album “Portrait of a Waterfall” released through Holborne Australia.
www.fionajoyhawkins.com
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 Murray Hinder
(Track 3: “Above The Snowline”)
Blue Mountains guitarist Murray Hinder has had a life-long passion for guitar playing in all its forms. A player since age thirteen, Murray has played in duos and bands encompassing both acoustic and electric styles, covering many genres.
Inspired by the Blue Mountains environment since moving there in 2001, “Above the Snowline” is one of the finger-style instrumentals he has been composing.
Discography:
Franz Scheurer and Murray Hinder
- “From A Distance” Olive Records MF10164
- “Now and Then” FS Productions
Contact: Phone (02) 4757 4433
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Greg McCauley (Track 4: “Mt. Solitary”)
and
Matt Lyon (Track 6: “Cascades”) Greg and Matt are long-time musical collaborators, having gone to the same school and played in rock bands together. They performed as a guitar/vocal duo for many years but in recent years have been composing instrumental music. They both contributed to each other’s tracks on the CD, both in the writing and in the recording. Both tracks were produced by Bruce Wheatley at Take Note Studio in Warrimoo (in the Blue Mountains).
 Neil Beaver & Stacey Karageorgio
(Track 5: “Blue Lullaby”)
Members of Blue Mountains band Glyph (formed in late 2002), Neil Beaver & Stacey Karageorgio combine here to create one of the many separate projects that they have been working on since having finished music studies in 2002.
Although this separate project showcases their versatility, their strength in a full band is equally a treat for the senses, with an EP to be released in 2006.
Neil & Stacey utilised their knowledge & technical skills to compose & produce the ethereal track appropriately named “Blue Lullaby”, written for Blue Mountains Music Volume 1.
www.glyph.com.au
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 Jack Pledge
(Track 7: “Mountain Morning”)
Raised in Texas, Jack Pledge came to Australia (via Canada) in the early 1980’s and has been making music and living in the Blue Mountains for over fifteen years.
“Mountain Morning” was inspired by a walk in the Blue Mountains - the gentle rhythms of the rainforest giving way to the sharp and sudden majesty of sweeping valley vistas.
“Mountain Morning” can be heard on Jack's recently released third album “Goin’ South”.
The players: Peter Figures on Drums, Doug Rowe on Bass and mandolin, Matt Lyon on piano, Jack Pledge and Gary Lothian on guitars, and Garry Steel on the wonderful organ.
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 Phoenix
[Track 8: “Rock Piper (Jamie’s Theme)” ]
Gary Stowe and Peter McVie played together as “Phoenix” sometime last century and have collaborated on various projects since.
Gary (guitar) is a one-time pub rocker and occasional folk den strummer. Peter (keyboards/synthesisers), graduated from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music with a B.Mus and is currently the Assistant Musical Director of the NSW Schools Spectacular and M.D. of “Whispering Jack.”
Also featuring in this line-up is Gary’s new guitar, a Joe Gallacher dreadnought constructed from native Australian timbers. The deep resonance you hear is not an electronic effect, it is the guitar’s natural sound echoing the power of our ancient land.
The tune “Rock Piper (Jamie’s Theme)" is from a trilogy composed for Gary’s children, and can also be found on Gary’s new CD “Walking The Spirit Home”.
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 Reluctant Friends of Steve
(Track 9: “Contemplating Running Amok”)
“The Rels” personnel (left to right):
Kevin (Breezy) Fox – didjeridu, polybone, horse whisperer
Glynn (Eckles) Owen – bass, webmaster
Dave (Dad) Alexander – drums, spam master
Ian (Barstool) Duncan – lead guitar, Pro Tools
Steve (Steve) Stockton – 12-string acoustic
About the band (by Steve):
Our material has a very diverse sound which the band calls Celtic Blues with a Didjeridu. What does this all mean? Well, on some tracks you can have beautiful Celtic melodies, on others, something sounding like James Brown from the Mountains, and then out of the blue, 12 string reggae and then something turning the whole thing upside down, a very unique version of skunge/thrash folk.
Dave and Ian who played with the wonderful “Flaming Barstools”, Glynn and Steve from the fantastically silly “Thumping Buzzard” and Breezy (who was with himself), have always been close friends and happily became all “Reluctant” together in late 2002. Above all, the focus has always been on great melodies, and most of all, great fun.
To understand where the band is coming from and our philosophy on life and the universe, please read the following email extract from our drummer Dave, where he has answered a question of mine…
“Hi fellow RELS (short can be sweet)
Steve asked in his email, What's a good blurb about the band ??? Do we have an angle we want to approach ?
Now what appears to be an easy question seems to be a ridiculously hard question. After all, what IS the point of the RELS? Buggered if I know. What's the point of anything. In the words of Marvin (Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) "Life! Who needs it".
Well, we do actually. Anybody who dies is out of the band if for no other reason than the smell. And Steve's got a head start.
Now from my perspective, the band looks like this. When we play, we play really well. People enjoy hearing us as much as we enjoy playing. I enjoy listening to our CDs and I hope lots of other people do too. I spent the night at the Royal Hotel after the CD launch and next morning, as I walked down the corridor, a guy on the phone said, 'I spent the night at the Royal and the band was awesome'. To me, this is fantastic. Somebody enjoyed themselves.
Do we have a message? Well I don't. I like playing good music and I think that's what we play. Original, funny, dumb and honest. I can't see us becoming millionaires in the next few weeks but I don't preclude the next few years. There's something good happening in this music.
Where are we going? This is a good question and one that Stephen didn't ask unless it blends in with blurb. Well, I subscribe to the Albert Einstein Theory of General Relativity, a subject dear to our hearts. He came up with the idea of local action. If you want to make something happen a long way away you have to make something happen locally. And that effects things further on etc. Of course, Albert knew nothing of the Internet.
Why does someone ask us for a blurb? Why do these music people do what they do? Why does anybody do what they do? Who knows, but we care! Yes we do. We also do it just for the free soft drinks.
We come from the Blue Mountains, we play Celtic Blues with a Didjeridu or we're the Heaviest Folk Band in the World depending on what sort of moods we're in.
Now stop bothering me.
Dave”
 “Contemplating Running Amok” can also be heard on the Rel’s second CD “Mirrors of the Past”.
For lots more about Reluctant Friends of Steve go to www.therels.com
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Paul Jarman (Track 10: “Ferntree Gully”)
Composer/Performer Paul Jarman, (born 1971) is a widely acclaimed Australian composer and performing artist. Through his music, he is searching for and celebrating a deeper understanding of Australian culture and history. From ancient traditions to contemporary issues, migrant journeys, personal stories of achievement, the song lines of a vast landscape, he finds his inspiration from a variety of sources and has worked extensively throughout Australia, Europe, Asia, North America, the Middle East and the Pacific with theatre productions, dance ensembles, Aboriginal-Anglo Celtic performance groups, choirs and orchestras; from concert halls to remote communities, schools and institutions, festivals, diplomatic functions and special events, and as a Musica Viva performing artist and cultural ambassador for the Department of Foreign Affairs with Australia’s own Sirocco, in India, Pakistan, Taiwan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Laos,Vietnam, Singapore, the Philippines, ... the list is endless.
Paul has composed music for some of Australia’s most unique events including the Centenary of Federations, the Bicentenary of the Battle of Vinegar Hill, and Year of the Outback, The Olympic Arts Festival, The Rugby World Cup and the Australia Day Spectacular. In 2002 he toured Europe as resident composer with the Sydney Children’s Choir for World Song Beat Festival and the International Youth Summit at the Geneva Convention, returning in 2004 with Sing NSW as guest composer for the D’Day 60th Anniversary at Normandy, France. He has composed and performed music for various Sydney Festival events including Sam Shepard’s Angel city, Aerial Art and I.D Dance, and was a featured soloist for the Imax film, Equus.
He composed and performed the music for William Yang’s ‘Objects of Meditation’ in 2005, premiering in Sydney, then Brussels, Paris, Rome, Oslo, Reunion Island, Singapore and Rotterdam. His work with Indigenous communities has ranged from concerts and workshops across the Pilbarra, Kimberly, Western NSW, Northern Territory and Arnhem Land, to collaborations with Jimmy Little and Troy Cassar-Daley as Musical Director for the Deadly Awards at the Sydney Opera House. Paul’s new group, Platypus, combines contemporary and traditional Indigenous song and dance with Australasian/Celtic music, and is touring South-East Asia and the Pacific.
In 2005 with acclaimed Aboriginal artist Adam Hill, the duo became the first of it’s kind to tour universities across Vietnam, introducing thousands of students to multi-cultural and Aboriginal Australia. In 2006 he collaborated with world renowned Didjeridoo artist David Hudson, and contemporary Torres Strait/Aboriginal dancer Phil Geia as the headline act for the Philippines Arts Festival, Akira Isogawa and Colours of the Aussie West exhibitions. Paul is most well known for his choral music and original lyrics, commissioned by ensembles including Gondwana Voices, Sing NSW, the Sydney Children’s Choir, The Department of Education, and Sing Australia. His ‘Shackleton’ featured on ABC Classics, sung by Gondwana Voices is one of the most popular and widely performed choral works in the country. In 2005 critically acclaimed song cycle, ‘Young Australians - Voices of Achievement’ was released on the same label, performed by Sing NSW, and ‘Island Heroes’, dedicated to the people of the Torres Strait, premiered at Sydney Opera House to five full houses. Also 2005, Paul performed for the international premier of his critically acclaimed cantata, ‘I Will Ride’ at the Jordan Hall in Boston, with the PALS Children’ Chorus and Boston City Singers, and was guest speaker with Deborah Conway and Rob Hirst for the Byron Bay Writers Festival.
Paul was composer in residence for Let’s Sing in Tasmania 2004, after composing music for the United Nations Year of the Mountain, Hobart. He has composed more than seventy major works including school anthems and commemorative town songs, and has collaborated with students to compose song cycles including ‘Beyond the White Sails (Caulfield Grammar 2004), and ‘Yennibu’ in 2006 with Aboriginal leaders and the combined schools of the Kuringai in Sydney. With this approach to education and cultural awareness through an appreciation of the arts, Paul’s words and music continue to touch the heart of audiences and performers all ages, worldwide.
“Ferntree Gully” was composed and recorded for Blue Mountains Music Volume 1, in April 2005. TOP
 Phil Davidson
(Track 11: “Govett’s Great Leap”)
Singer/songwriter Phil Davidson was born in Belfast, Nth Ireland. He emigrated to Australia with his parents at the age of 10. He was given his 1st guitar at the age of 16.
It wasn’t until one of Phil’s self-produced albums “5 Days” fell into the hands of legendary producer Tony Cohen (Nick Cave, Powderfinger, Cold Chisel etc), that Phil’s music began to get noticed. Tony was so impressed, he recommended that Phil use his own personal list of contacts to get his music out. Phil then sent a copy of the same album to Richard Glover 702 ABC “Drive Show” in the vague hope of airplay. Richard also, was so impressed that he booked Phil to play live on air the following week. Phil played his autobiographical song “Belfast Boy”. The result was astonishing. Switchboards jammed and the Phil Davidson story began to take a dramatic turn, with much of Sydney eager to hear the next instalment in the story. He was added to the ABC’s national play list on the strength of his performance and his album is currently available throughout ABC stores. His follow-up appearances on the 702 Drive Show have had overwhelming responses from listeners, with Richard playing, due to popular demand, Phil’s songs regularly.
Phil was recently labelled as one of the “standout performers” at the Blue Mountains Blues and Roots Festival, amongst a line up of renowned international artists. His song “Broken Ground”, from his latest EP, was broadcast recently on Channel 7 and globally on the Cable network.
His latest recording “The Last Thing She Wanted To Hear”, was recently released with two tracks being picked up by the ABC for regular rotation on their play lists.
If you like rootsy, melodic, acoustic songs in the vein of Van Morrison, Luka Bloom or Jackson Browne, then you’ll love Phil Davidson’s music.
For bookings and correspondence:
Focal Point Australia
PO Box 240 Glenbrook NSW 2773
Ph: (02) 4739 2577 Mob: 0412 696 758
www.phildavidson.net . email: pad@tpg.com.au
“Govett’s Great Leap” was composed and recorded for Blue Mountains Music Volume 1. Many thanks go to Michael Jackson from Blue Mountains band “Didjeridu Dingo” for kindly allowing the sampling of his wonderful “didj” playing.
“The Govett’s Leap waterfall is a breathtaking, 180 metre-high waterfall in Blackheath that my 5 year old son and I visited on a cold winter’s morning in search of his first snowfall. The wind was so strong he was nearly lifted off the ground. We watched the snow clouds roll in overhead and followed them to the other side of Blackheath where the snow fell in great waves. I danced like a child.”
- Phil Davidson
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